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To say that running the Motorola Marathon changed my life would be an
understatement. It changed my life in ways that I could not have ever
anticipated. For the month leading up to the race, I had been fighting knee
problems severe enough to keep me from even attempting the race. In fact, a
more prudent and cautious person would not have attempted the race. I am
neither prudent, nor cautious. I knew within myself that I had to finish
this race.
I woke up on time, at 4:15 am. I had my peanut butter and banana and then I
sat around. I stretched and sat around some more. I watched the news, I
stretched again, I prayed. I said "Please Lord let me finish this race."
That was it.
It was a lot colder at the starting line than I thought it would be. I
thought that it would be better for my knee the colder it was. We
stretched. We walked to the starting area and we waited. We waited and
chatted, and waited some more. We talked about our family and friends that
were at the start, and about the family and friends that we wished had been
there. We talked about the people that we would see along the way.
Boom! We're off, slowly at first. We talked and commented on all the
clothes left on the side of the road.
When I pictured myself running the marathon, I pictured myself going over
Mopac on Braker, and there I was. We got to Burnet. That's where my son
goes to kung fu I said as we ran past his school. At about mile 7, there
were a couple of guys playing bag pipes. My left knee started hurting at
about this point. Fortunately, Michelle had some ibuprofen. I took a couple
and kept on going. Before mile 10, I had to slow down. The folks from the
other orange groups went past me, all of them giving me words of encouragement.
Focus
Keep it up
Be strong!
I thanked them all as they went past me. " see you at the finish line" I
said.
I kept going. I switched from 8-1 to 4-1 then 2-1 then 2-2 then I walked a
mile and tried to run half, then I mostly walked. Those girls on Lake
Austin Blvd. with their boom box playing 70s funk music were a breath of
fresh air, both times I went past them. The Hooters water stop, I thought
was very well organized. Pity it was so cold.
Then, just after mile 20 it happened.
The wind died down, the sound stopped, traffic disappeared, everything went
to slow motion and I saw them. I saw my son, Alexander standing on the side
of the road with Yvonne, his mom, my ex-wife. He had a sign with him it
said Go Daddy. I couldn't believe that they were there. I was happy to
see them both. I gave my son a big hug and a kiss, and I gave Yvonne a hug,
which she returned. It was a real hug. It was the good kind of hug. We both
felt it and we both knew that it was special.
Someone said that mile 20 is the second half of the marathon in every sense
except geographically. They were right.
I went on my way. At about mile 22, I saw the moon (thanks Lisa!). I
would've returned the favor, but I would've broken my stride. I kept going,
over the dam, up Pleasant Valley, on Lakeshore, to Riverside, over the hill,
past the people handing out beer. I started running again.
As I was coming up to south First Street, I saw Yvonne standing up in the
bleachers. She's there, I said to myself. As I approached, I saw
Alexander on the bleachers too. There's my boy!
I ran up the chute, high fived my college buddy Ivan, and crossed the finish
line. Thank you Lord for helping me finish this race.
I got my medal and put it on my son. I waved the crowd out of my way, and I
hugged Yvonne again. I really wanted to kiss her.
The marathon changed my life. Yvonne and I are getting to know each other
again. We're enjoying each other's company again. We're talking about
running the marathon together next year, as a couple. Were on our way to
being a family again.
This is my marathon story. Yes, it is glossed over. With thanks and
apologies to my now ex-girlfriend Amanda, who gave up Friday and/or
Saturday night dates so I could train for the marathon. She met me at mile
4, 14, 19 and the finish line. She drove. She took pictures. She supported
me through the race. I'll never be able to thank her, or apologize enough.
Thanks to my friends Ivan and Debi, who juggled their hectic schedules so
they could be there at the finish line for me. Thanks to the Austin Fit
coaches, especially Lisa and Michelle. I finished the race a different
person. Hopefully, I'm a better person.
Rafael
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